Pen-point extractor



(No Model.) 4 W. LEIGH.

' PEN POINT BXTRAGTOR.

Patented Mar. 17,1896.

WITNESSES 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM LEIGH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

PEN-POINT EXTRACTOR.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,468, dated March 17, 1896.

Appli ati n filed November 25, 1895. Serial No. 569,987. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, WVILLIAM LEIGH, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Pen-Point EX- trac-tors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming IO part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating my pen-extractor secured to the under side of the edge of a table. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the same device. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 4is a vertical sectional view at right angles to Fig. 2, the section being taken on the line IV IV of such figure. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating a modified form of clamp. Fig. 6 is a View in elevation illustrating a further modification.

Similar numerals of reference refer to like parts wherever used throughout this specification.

2 5 My invention consists of a device for eX- tracting pens from penholders when the resistance is too great to allow of the fingers being used. It is designed to be operated by merely inserting the pen-point between the clamps of the device, turning it a partial revolution, whereby the clamps willbe tightened, and then drawing the holder away from the pen, when the clamps will be returned to their normal or open position by a suitable 3 5 spring.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is a base provided at its upper side with a short woodscrew 3 and at its lower side with a short quick-threaded screw 4, the base and screws being formed of one piece, preferably a dropforging or steel casting. Immediately below the base 2 is the lower clamp 5, provided at the top with a circular plate 6, threaded to suit the screw 4, so that by turning the clamp 5 it will be caused to approach the base 2. Secured to a small stud 7 at the end of the screw 4 by means of a pin 8 engaging a radial groove 9, so as to permit it to turn freely, is the small male clamp 10, the sides of which are flat and vertically straight for a short distance and bear against the inside vertical faces of the female clamp 5, while the bottom is curved cylindrically to correspond to a similar curvature on the inside of the bottom of the clamp 5. These curved faces are made so in order to correspond to the curvature of a pen-point when inserted between the two clamps, so that when they are brought together they will conform as nearly as possible to the shape of the pen. It will be readily seen that when thus inserted and turned to the left, as indicated in dotted lines at 11, Fig. 3, the penholder being held in one hand and used as a lever, the rotation of the clamp 5, carrying around with it the clamp 10, will cause the clamp 5 to rise, by reason of the rapid pitch of the screw 4 until the pen-point is tightly gripped between the two clamps, when the holder may be drawn away, leaving the point held between the clamps.

A wire spring 12, secured at its ends to the base 2 and plate 6, respectively, serves to return the parts to their normal or open position by reason of the expansion of such spring after having been compressed in the act of ro- 7 5 tating the plate 6 in clamping the pen-point, such return motion being thereby automatic and obviating the necessity of opening the clamps by hand.

A simpler form of the clamp is shown in Fig. 5, in which case the screw 4 is used without the clamp 10, the end 13 being rounded and provided with a pin 14 to prevent the removal of the clamp 5. The forms just described are designed to be used on the under 8 5 side of a table, desk, or in other convenient location where they may be attached by the screw 3, and it will be seen that the screw 4 is made left-handed, such form being somewhat more convenient in practice, although a right-hand screw may be used with equally good results.

The form of device shown in Fig. 6 is designed as a clamp to be used by the fingers, the thumb-pieces 15 16 serving as edges by which the two parts may be grasped and turned by the hand of the operator to clamp or unclamp, no spring being necessary in such case. The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those accustomed to the use 1 00 of steel pens, inasmuch as the removal of the pen from the holder is frequently rendered difficult by corrosion of the pen and the fingers are apt to be soiled by the ink adhering to the pen. Such inconvenience is entirely obviated and the removal of the pen rendered comparatively easy by my device.

Changes and modifications may be made in my invention by the skilled mechanic without departing therefrom, as I do not desire to be limited to the form shown in the drawings, but to embrace any equivalent thereof.

It is easy and cheap to construct, not liable to get out of order, and provides a simple and effective means for accomplishing the desired result.

Having described my invention and in what manner it operates, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device for extracting pen-points from. holders consisting of a two-part clamp, a screw integral with the base and adapted to force one clamp against the other by turning one of the clamps, substantially as set forth.

2. A device for extracting pen-points from holders consisting of a base, a screw integral with the base, and an internally-curved clamp mounted on the screw, adapted to turn thereon and grip the pen-point between the clamp and the end of the screw, substantially as set forth.

3. A device for extracting pen-points from holders consisting of a base, a screw integral with the base furnished with a clampingblock revolubly secured to its end, and an internally-curved clamp mounted on the screw, adapted to turn thereon, and grip the penpoint between the clamp and clamping-block substantially as set forth.

I. A device for extracting pen-points from holders, comprising a clamp having an internallycurved face for the pen, a clampingblock secured to the end of an ad justingscrew having a quick-threaded bearing in the body of the clamp, adapted to force the clamping-block against the curved face of the clamp by turning it or the screw, and a retracting spring secured to the clamp and the base of the screw respectively, substantially as set forth.

5. A device for extracting pen-points from holders comprising a base provided on one side with a wood-screw for attachment and on the other with a quick-threaded screw having mounted on a stud at its end a male clamp free to turn thereon, a female clamp surrounding the male clamp and threaded to engage the quick-threaded screw, and a retract ing-spring secured at its ends to the base and the female clamp respectively, substantially as set forth.

6. A device for extracting pen-points from holders consisting of interfitting male and female clamps, one of the clamps being mounted within the other and capable of adjustment therein by a threaded screw having a bearing in the body of the other clamp, with a finger-grip attachment secured to the screw and female clamp respectively, substantially as set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of November, 1895.

\VILLIAM LEIGH. lVitnesses:

PETER J. EDWARDS, C. M. CLARKE. 

